BRICS Needs a Sharper Focus on Delivering Economic Gains

By Wandile Sihlobo

The South African agriculture and agribusiness sector’s view on BRICS participation has generally focused on how this can expand export opportunities.

Other matters that agribusiness groups in other BRICS members typically raise, such as climate-smart agriculture, advances in seed breeding, and deeper fertiliser trade, are important and broadly beneficial to South Africa.

But so far, many of these issues have largely been discussed from a “knowledge sharing” perspective, without a clear avenue to ensure technical knowledge transfer to countries with lower agricultural productivity. Such countries could benefit from the know-how and skills of those with the most advanced agricultural sectors.

As China assumes the Chairmanship of BRICS going into 2027, it will likely continue the focus on these productivity issues in agriculture. But the comforting part for South Africa’s agricultural and agribusiness sectors is that China has already indicated it will also focus on trade-related matters.

A BRICS global chair that champions trade will be valuable ahead of South Africa’s time to Chair BRICS once more in 2028. But the approach going into 2027 may need a review.

Agribusinesses and the agricultural sector typically participate in the BRICS group through the country chapters of the BRICS Business Council. The Business Councils are not policy bodies but recognised forums for dialogue amongst the business community of the various BRICS countries. Before the annual Summit, the Chairing countries formulate a report, supported by other member countries, which they then table at the leaders’ Summit for consideration.

While this process ensures that BRICS political leaders are aware of the Business Council’s work, it remains unclear how much impact the Council has had on key policy and programme issues within the grouping.

Thus, it may be critical that each Chapter of the BRICS Business Council not only tables its ideas through formal channels ahead of the Summit, but also engages with its domestic government throughout the year on its agenda and its vision for BRICS.

This would elevate alignment, as the various Working Groups that focus on different aspects meet regularly, discuss the work programme from the start of the year, and refine ideas throughout the year, closing points of divergence and building common purpose and support for the agenda.

Therefore, work that reflects the priorities of business communities in all member countries should ideally receive more political support and, over time, lead to material gains for businesses and communities across the BRICS countries.

The Summits can’t only end up as spectacular events for the day without tangible benefits for the various business communities. If this continues, doubts about BRICS’s effectiveness will grow. This is even more urgent today as the world faces geoeconomic tensions, and the BRICS group itself faces pressure from countries outside the group that view it as a competitor.

Therefore, instead of an illusory view of what happens in BRICS, material progress from one Summit to the next that strengthens countries’ economic ties would be much more beneficial. In the case of China, they have already shown leadership on trade matters.

At a time when various countries are lifting tariffs and closing their markets, China has embraced open markets. For the African continent, the China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement for shared development is one such material step, as it lowered tariffs on various goods from African countries to zero.

What remains now for some agricultural products is ensuring that China also addresses phytosanitary barriers, so this agreement can deliver material economic benefits and truly live up to its objective of enhancing development and prosperity in the African continent and China.

Therefore, the steps that China has already taken when managing its affairs with the African continent are the same approach that must be marshalled within BRICS.

If China pursues trade matters deliberately, then when South Africa assumes the Chairship in 2028, the country will build on already fertile ground. The business communities of all member countries would also benefit from this approach. BRICS has potential, but action beyond major speeches is essential to the group’s economic advancement.

Wandile Sihlobo is the Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land. He is also the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa and a senior research fellow in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University.